auto-detect windows network

Forum Moderators: travelin cat

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auto-detect windows network

jamie

8:12 am on Oct 1, 2010 (gmt 0)

hi,

just got a macbook pro and after a life of windows am having a few teething problems :)

i've just set up networking and using CMD + K i can connect to smb://192..... and see/edit my windows documents. i can also connect in the same way to my linux box. however when i open my network after rebooting/logging out, there are no pcs there: i have to manually connect each time.

with windows, i am used to clicking on network and seeing all pcs in the network (including the macbook).

is there a way to auto detect all pcs in the network so that finder shows them without my having to manually connect?

a) my macbook is set to WORKGROUP (same as win pc)
b) i can connect manually and have full network access to all machines.
c) i have recreated my location several times
d) i have even put my winpc IP in the wins servers box

the funny thing is, last night i did see them, but for some reason they're gone now?

many thanks

travelin cat

10:54 pm on Oct 1, 2010 (gmt 0)

One thing that may make your connections easier is when you use CMD K, there is a little pop up box to the right of the server address field. You will find a list of recent servers there that may make logging on to them a bit less tedious.

[edited by: travelin_cat at 11:14 pm (utc) on Oct 1, 2010]

travelin cat

11:13 pm on Oct 1, 2010 (gmt 0)

I think I found an answer to your problem. Instead of command-k in the finder, try shift-command-k (or the Go Menu -> Network). This will get you in to the network. Now choose the servers you want and log on to them. Next double click on the icon for the user's directory you want to access, it will show up as an icon on your desktop.

Now control-click on the icon and choose "Make Alias" from the menu. You now have the ability to jump right to that user on the network from the alias.

Do this for each server you wish to access and just keep the aliases for them somewhere on your desktop, or even in a folder together on the desktop.

jamie

3:20 pm on Oct 2, 2010 (gmt 0)

many thanks :)

had to activate the "show network servers on desktop" first before i could add an alias. now i have them both in the dock!

again tks!

travelin cat

4:09 pm on Oct 2, 2010 (gmt 0)

Great to hear. Sorry I left out the "show network servers on desktop" part. I thought they came out of the box that way.